About Northern Medical Society of British Columbia
The UNBC story began in January 1987, at a public meeting, held at the College of New Caledonia, on the possibility of extending degree-awarding opportunities in Prince George. By the fall of 1987, after around a dozen meetings, it had became apparent that there was considerable enthusiasm for the creation of a full university in the north, and on December 1, 1987, the Interior University Society (IUS) was incorporated under the Societies Act. This Society swiftly expanded, to include Directors representing the whole northern region.
History Of Northern Medical Society of British Columbia
Important early support for the IUS was obtained from Bruce Strachan, MLA for Prince George South and Minister of State for the Cariboo Region, who saw the regional development potential of a northern university. This led to the commissioning of a study Building a Future of Excellence: a University of Northern BC ("The Dahloff Report"). This report, which was to demonstrate the credibility and feasibility of a university in the north, was one major element of the IUS strategy. The other elements were campaigns to: educate the people of the north of the value of university; gain the endorsement of public bodies throughout the north; and prove to the government the depth of individual support through a petition. On October 13, an IUS delegation was able to present the government with:
a petition signed by 16,000 voters who had paid $5 for the privilege;
letters of support from every town, village, city, regional district, hospital board, school board and Chamber of Commerce in northern BC;
an Angus Reid survey which indicated that 94% of northerners were in favour of creating the university;
the Dahloff Report indicating the feasibility, credibility and value of the university.
1989: The IPG
Some felt that the momentum towards creation of a university was now unstoppable, but the provincial government then received the "Bullen Study" on the expansion of post-secondary education, which recommended creation of university-colleges rather than the full university for which the IUS was campaigning. The IUS then engaged in a determined campaign to resist this alternative, saying that a full research university was necessary given the North's unique situation. It was clear, however, that the alternative was strongly favoured by some key figures in the government.
In April 1989, the IUS negotiated with the Ministry of Advanced Eduction, Training and Technology on a way forward. Subsequently, the Minister appointed the Implementation Planning Group (IPG), to advise him on what type of institution would be best for the north. Though some feared that this was just a delaying tactic, there was satisfaction in the fact that the majority of IPG members either were from, or had experience of, northern BC.
